Folding machine



March 19, 1929. w. L. DIXON FOLDVING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 .lllllVlllIlFl lnv enTo r. Walter L. Dixon FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2. I

lnve'nTor.

March 19, 1929. w, L, mXoN' 1,705,660

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnven'for.

WalTer L. Dixo n Fry o, KM H a Mil/1,. Afiys. I

March 19, 1929;

W. L. DIXON FOLDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 21, 1924 Fig.4.

ATTys.

say a folded blank or a, completed collar- "Patented Mar. 19, 1929 m UNITED STATE earsnrorsics. v,

, LTER L. nixoixtor BosToN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR o BEEQE FOLDING A-j cnmn COMPANY, or BOSTON, MAS-SaOHUSETTS, A "CORPORATION or M IN -Q FOLDING: MACHINE.

Application filed Augean, i924. ,seriaino vwaaes'."

ture of collars andcuffs, and involves also a novel method of folding such blanks, more especially blanks of certain specific shapes,

and involves also a novel product, that is to vor other article embodying the particular and novel form of fold of'this invention.

he generalobject of the invention is to afford an improved folding machine, method and product, of general and specific utility int-he varts. A special object is to im-. prove the art offolding cloth blanks for' collars,,cuffs, and other articles of clothin 7 etc. A particular object is to enable the cf.

ficicnt and satisfactory manufacture of col- "lars or analogous articles wherein one or more of the corners to be folded is a fairly sharp .angle, or an acute angle, substantially less than 90. With the shapes having Such a corner or corners there has been a problem in producing a satisfactory fold on account of the difficulty in accommodating the excess of marginal material within the small compass of the acute angle. \Vith previous attempts; these corners have been folded in away to produce excessive thickness or even bunching ofmater1al,:resulting in anunsightlyand ,unc ommercial product, and sometimes even requiring trimming ally to the cost of manufacture. Other and further objects of the present invention will be explained in the hereinafter description of an embodiment thereof, or will be apparent to those skilled in the art. A

e To the attainment of the objects and advantages referred to the present invention consists in the novel machine or apparatus,

and the novel method of operation or man-Y ufacture, and the novel infold or product," as well as the novel features of combination,

a top plan view of a folding machine embodying the present invention, the same being of the general type illustrated by the patents of Dixon-956,950 and Reece 972,916,

although the features could be embodied in very different types. In Fig. l the defining templet or die is omitted, the infolders are shown in their outward positions. ready to be moved inwardly, and theblank is shown in position to be defined bythe .templet and infolded. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the templet and its mounting and operating connections.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the same. Fig. dis a front elevation of theter'nplet. Fig. 5 isa right elevation thereof, with certain adjacent parts shown in section.

Figs. 6 to 9 are partial plan views on an" enlarged scale showing s'uccessivestagesin the process subsequent to the initial condi-. tion shown in Fig 1. .y I

Fig..l0 shows a part of'the 'original in folded blank, corresponding to 1- Fig. 11 shows the samein a partly folded condition, corresponding to Fig 6.

. Fig. 12 shows the. completely blank, correspondingto 9 1.

For convenience the description maybe begun with the method and product, andthe apparatus described subsequently. It'may folded be assumed that the presentembodiment adapted for the manufacture ofa so-calledcollar top, that is, theoutside portionfof a collar, of an outlinehaving asharp angle, 7

as stated. Usually in constructing such an article two folded blanks are prepared, as sembled and stitched together, although sometimes ajsingle-infolded blank may be,

used as a collar top. vIn either case: the present. invention may beemployedfor the production of each. infolded blank presenting a sharp angled corner. QE a'ch blank nia'y -coaarticle so that in assembling two blanksthe' folds may be tucked in under each other, forming what lisknown as a lockcornen In one aspect, the present method may be described as comprising first defining the blank at the sharp corner with an obtuse an? gled outline, and thereupon partially infold- I ing the fabric margins, followed byan adjustment to reduce the defined angle to that of the desired sharp corner, and finally completingthe infol dingf In thisway the ex-v cess material at the corner is not. left to hap hazard arrangement but is preliminarily formed into an [orderly arrangement, the subsequent operation continuing the orderly arrangement, so that the infold is accurately formed of the desired outline, with the excess material snugly encompassed flatly within theangle.- Stated another way, the lineal margins of the blank are folded in but the excess margin material at the corner being first arranged and laid down flatly be-.. fore completing the operation.

One lineal margin of the blank is infolded and the corner material formed into a flap or flaps, which are then'laid downupon the first fold, and the second lineal margin then folded in,

completing the operation.- The product is characterized by having the inturned lineal margins which meet at the corner, andone or moreneatly infolded flaps or loops of one end of the blank. It will be understood I tionecl.

material located beneath the final infold and consisting of the original corner margin inaterial. I

The original, sharp cornered fabric blank 20 is indicated partially in Flg. l and Figs. 6 to 12, showing the sharp angled-corner at that the other end of the blank may be sub.- stantially symmetrical, and the entire blank of various contours, for example as indicated by the'bottom yiew of the defining templet in Fig. ,3.

Fig.j1() shows portion of the blank 20 detached froln the machine, and this figure indicates the eventuallines of side fold-21 and end fold' 22, the intersection of these stages, and Figs '9 and 12 the final stage. The" plan of this invention is preliminarily to define two edgespresenting an obtuse an gleiat the corner in question, for'exampl'e by the aid of a temporary defining element, and

to infold the blank over such. defined edges,

afterwards reducing the angle to tha't- -'desired and completing the infolding.

fold may be as indieatedat 26 inFig. 10. In Figs. 6 and 10, therefore, the blank is de fined along the lines 21 and ,26, and in this condition the infolding means operate to turn in the blank margins over both of such defined edges. 7 thus formed into an infold 23, as seen in Fig. 11, while the corner material 25 forms itself into anupstanding flap 25 This operation is preferably done by an infolder having edges corresponding substantially with the lines 21 and'26, and the infolding movement ispreferably at once continued so secured to a'sleeve 39. loose and carrying the cams to be described.

The preliminary or temporary line ofdefined The margin material 23 isv as to turn inwardly and down upon the'infold 23 the upstanding flap 25 as sufiicientlyindicated'in Fig. 7. This stage being completed the obtusean-gled definition is next discontinued and the anglereduced to the desired sharp angle, for example by the removal. of the temporary defining element mentioned. This leaves the end margin 24,

with its partially infolded corner, in condition to be infolded upon the folds already formed, as'seen in Fig. 8'; and this ispreferably done by separate infolding edge, approachlng-from the end, turningin and laying down the end margin 2% in the form'.

of an infold 2 F, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 12. By proper desi ning of the parts the mtermediate' fl'ap or fol'd- 25 maybe wholly enclosedand concealed by the end margin 24L, as indicated. Referringto the illustrated. machine, this is shown as comprising a supporting bed or pad on which the unfolded blanks are laid. 1 The bed may be heated, as usual, and is shown as scored in part to minimize slippage the fabric. The bed is preferably stationary but may havelifting movements to give squeezing pressure upon the infolded blanks in a well-known manner] The bed is supported by a frame, portions 31 of which indicated, which may be similar to the prior patents. A power shaft 32 may through a'worm wheel to give templet may be' ,swung for its up and down movements. A gear 36,"loose on the shaft is shown mesh with an intermediate gear-"37 engaging a gear 38 on the cam shaft 34, thereby transmitting rotation to the cam. mechanism of the templet, Thegear 36 is Extending forwardly from the fulcruin' shaft are two templet carrying arms (if),

at theforward ends of which is" supported a frame 41 carrying the movable parts of the templet. The carryingarms may be secured to the fulcrunrshaft and the'templet may be raised and lowered through any sys tem of levers or the like, as indicated in prior machines or. applications For example, a rearward arm 42 may be connected by a bell crank lever with a cam The defining portion of the templet may consist of a plurality of thin defining plates,

and these may be contracted so as to extract on to the main shaft 34% on which the cams are carried, Supported. out "the rear IS'SllOVIl a shaft by which they on the shaft on the main shaft.

them from the folds and permit effective.

creasing between the bed and infolders. For example, the templet may consist oftwo endplates 43 each having an end edge l t and a side edge 45, and a middle templet plate 46 bridging over the space between the two end plates. A convenient manner of movement for the templet plates is to have all of them moved bodily toward thefront side of the machine while the end plates approach each other, thus effectively extracting the templet from the rear side and twoend folds of the blank. Such movement enabled by the following mechanism. p

A body member 47 is shown directly carrying the middle empletplate It is constructed in the form of a longitudinal bar, capable of shifting forwardly and rear wardly. Rods. 4L8 carry the body member 47, and said rods are guided in tile teinplet frame 41. The rear ends of the rods a. connected by a cross bar49, the middle part of which is supported by a guide rod These parts are moved bodily forward through a cam yoke 51 connected tothe bar -19 and SiIZRClCllHI the sleeve 39 on shaft 30. the she navin n cam 'nn en 'a 'ins a cam 52, mounted on sleeve 39, all substantiallyas in machines her known.

F or causing shorteniii g ementa of the end plates 48 of the templet are shown a pair of cams 56 on sleec tw'xoperating with yok 55, each of wit h reciprocates a cam plate 56 having a cam slot 57 on ging the cams any desired contracting move ments may be effected. The ten'ipiet plates 43 may be adjustabiy carried beneath. the supporting blocks 5- thiflough slides 60 guided on the blocks and d ctly carrying the platcspso as to por adjustment for varying len hs of blank to be folded. N o

special novelty is herein claimed in relation toll 1e details just described,

The means for preliminarily enlargingthe subtended angle defined," at the corner of the blank is preiierably an extra or supplemental defining element or edge shown in the form of a smal angular plate adapted to be removably positioned upon the margin of the blank adjacent to the corner of the templet and outsid of one edge of the templet. mounted in various ways and operated by hand or automatically.

ed the suppleno. adapted to lie adjacent. to the end edge lei of the-templet, and an edge 67 adapted to form an obtuse angle with the edge 45 of the templet.

This additional defining piece may be It may be mounted upon the bed or mfolders and independent an edge 66,

it will be understood that the templet edge 45 and the defining piece edge 67oorrespond with the fold lines "21 and 26, respectively, in Figs. 1-0 and 11. The requirement as to operation of the defining; piece -65 is that it shall bepositioned as stated during the first part/of the folding,.so' that the blank is partly folded with an obtuse angle, and that'itshallthen be removable or Withdrawn to permit the completion of the folding, a portionof the obtuse angle being turned over upon the templet edge 44,

a neat and satisfactory infolded thus giving blank. I

Anadva'ntageous arrangementis to construct the defining piece 65 of thin metal, properly sharpened, extending forwardly from the defining position and then upturned at .68 and bent again forwardly at 69, with the forward end properly secured to a suitable support. This cbnstruction gives resilicce so that when the piece 65 .is retracted from the. temporary fold it may readily yield upwardly during the final in folding operation, thus avoiding co fi with the infolders. Preferably the removal of the defining piece from the partly folded} blank is autoi'natic, and for this purpose the "horizontal holding portion 69 is mounted.

upon a shiftable carrier 70 This carrier sshown as a rigid L-shapedmember fulcrumedat its inner end 71 so that ts-outer end can swing forwardly for theretracti-ng movement and subsequently return to reposition the defining piec The pivotsl are mounted on the longitu'dinally adjustable slides 60, permitting the defining pieces,

to be adjusted when theten'iplet is altered 1 I H in length; When the templet length is.

changed this simultaneously shifts the defining pieces to correspond.- For adjusting th deliningpiece accurately to the templet plate a screw stop Z is showngiving rearward adjustment, and the plate maybe adjustable endwi'se for a similar purposef These forward and rearward movements of the carrier 70 may be effected positively through pins 73 upstanding from each carrier, the upper ends of the pins engaging with a longitudinal actuator .bar i l, which has a groove75 to receive the pins, thuspermitting the adjustment of the parts-for blanks of different lengths. The-central part of the bar 74 is secured at the forward end of a sliding plate 76 which is mounted slidingly in the templet frame 4-1 and at its rear end is provided with a yoke '77 surrounding the fulcrum sleeve 39 and having a cam pin '78 engaging. a 'cam 79 the contour of which is indicated in Fig. 5. This contour and that of the other CZLIYIS need nospecific description further than the forth; I y I The folding means may take various forms but I -prefer 'iihin, metallic infolder statement of operation to be hereinafter set is shown as having a lougit-udinalfolding edge .86 and, near the corner, an inwardly inclined edge 87 forming an obtuse anglewith 86; these two edges corresponding, with the defining edges and 67 and with the folding lines 21 and These edges 86 and 87 take part in the prelin'iinary folding. Preferably a slight notch 88 is termed at their junction. The infolder 85 also prefcrably has an exterior edge89 adaptedinomentarily to define the end edge in the second stage of operation, or at least to hold the fabric in place'when the end told-errises and starts inward.

The infolder 85 may be mounted on a Attached to this heavier stock or body 90. stock and at other convenient points may be gages 91 to assist the initial positioning otthe blank. The rear side infolders and 85 may be moved inwardly and outwardly by a. bar 92, actuated by connections not shown, from a cam 93, or a plurality of such cams. The actuator bar 92 has longitudinal slots 94;, one of which s rves to guide a portion of the stock 90, thus permitting the intolder 85 to be moved longitudinally, the stock being held in the slot by an overlying plate 95. The middle infolder 84L may be permanently secured in one of the slot/soils of the, bar

For the purpose of giving the ,in'folder 85 suitable endwise movements the stock 90 is shown extended to the right at 96 in Fig.

' 1, its extremity having a cross slot 97 receiving a pin 98 mounted on a pushrod 99 the outer end of whichiis adjustably secured upon a block 100 at'the upper end of a cam lever 101 fulcrumed at its lower end and having a pin 102 extending into the groove of a cam 103. V in cooperation to give the infolder 85 its required movements. A cam 10s is shown arranged to control the upward and downward movements of the rear side infolders, asalready mentioned. 7

The end in't'older 110 may be arranged to have a simple enowise movement through suitable guiding means. A recessed block 111 on. top of the end infolder is engaged by a pin on a push rod 112 similar tothe push rod 99. The outer end of the push rod 112 is vadjtstably mounted on a block 113 formed at the top of a cam lever 11 having a pin or follower 115 engaging a cam 116, this cam giving full control of the in and The cams 93 and 103 work mousseout movements of the end infolder. A cam 118 lifts and lowers the intolder 110, which initially lies flush. with the bed and below The operation may be substantially as follows. Fig. 1 showsthe unfolded blank 20 of Fig. 10 laid in position against the gages 91 and on top of the bed and in ielder edges.

The teniplet descendstoward 'the'bed and comes down upon the blank, causing its side margin 23 to be turned up against the sidev infielder 85, the-notch 88 commencing to form the fabric into a loop. r he defining and 11, and the diagonal movement lays the loop over in Fig. 7. Thedefining piece up to now has been in position as in its cam 78, to the position seen in Fig. 8. Preferably the side intolder now continues i a iongitudinal direction, until reaching osition, with the infolder edge 89 lately coinciding with the end edge entour. At this time the end in- 7 110 lifts, thus turning up the fabric, the deiin piece yieldin upwardly, and the ttolder teen starts longitudinallyinward, laying the blank margin 2% over and During this movement the side ini older p 'oi-abiy moves inward slightly in advance of the end infolder, and with a gonai movement, giving an ironing action on the n.

The condi. Figs. 9 and The foldingis done. teinpiet may be contracted out of the folds and .ons a this sta e are indicated by removed to give place to a new one. The

int-elders preferably are retracted slightly beyond their ii l position, and moved forward to thein' position as in Fig. 1, and brought to rest therein readiness to start a new cycle of operations.

It will thus be seen that there has been described a foldingmachine or apparatus, a folding method, and a folded blank or collar, embodying the principles and attaining the advantages of the present invention. Sincemanymatters or arrangement, combination, structure, operation and detail may be variously modified without departing from the principles of the invention, it is not intended to limit the same to such matters except in so far as set forth in the appended claims.

l Vhat is claimed is:

' 1. A machine for infolding collar blanks or the like having adjacent edges meeting at a sharp corner comprising obtuse angled ial as it is laid over and down.

The

ted, the liolds squeezed between bed- .the operating level of the side infolder 85.-

Figs. 1, 2'3, 6 and 7, but is now with'drawn by means for first interiorly :defining the blank atthe shar j corner withanobtuse angled outline, and? forsubsequently changing the interior defining. means to reduce-the defined angleto the desired sharp anglepinfolders tor the edges meeting at such corner, and means for actuating the infolders first to infold over both edgesoi": the obtuse angled defining means, and atter the reduction of angle. to infold to the sharp angle.

2.1n a machine for intolding collar sharp angle, infolders, and means for actuating the infolders to fold blank edges partially over the enlarged angle defining mechanism and to complete the infoldingafter the reduction of the angle.

3. A machine for infolding collar blanks or the like having adjacent lineal edges meeting at a sharp corner consisting in means for first defining one of such lineal edges and any edge at obtuse angle thereto, and subsequently both of such lineal edges, infolders,

wherein one of the infolders comprises a reentrant obtuse angle operating both at one means for actuating said infolders first to intold the blank over both such first defined edges, and subsequently to infold the blank over the other lineal edge. 7

4. In a machine for infolding collar blanks or the like, a support for a blank to be intolded, a templet defining the two edges meeting at a given corner, an extra defining piece adapted to be removably positioned upon the margin of the blank adjacent to such corner outside one templet edgeto enlarge the subtended angle, means for intolding blank margins at both sides of such angle over the templet and defining piece,

means for withdrawing the defining piece,-

means for infolding the remaining blank margin over the corresponding templet edge, and timed mechanism operating said defining piece and infolding means in the order stated.

5. In a machine for infolding collar blanks or the like, a support for a blank to be folded, a templet fitted to be positioned upon the blank and adapted to define the two edges meeting at a sharp corner, a defining member adapted to be removably positioned upon the blank margin adjacent to such sharp corner for enlarging the subtended angle to an obtuse angle, infolders, means for operating the infolders first to infold the blank'margins at both edges of the obtuse angle and form the excess ma-.'

' terial into a loop, and subsequently, after the withdrawal of the defining member, to in-' fold the material vacated by said member, and means for withdrawing the. defin ng member during the intolding operations.

- and an infolder 6. :Infolding machine as in claim 5 and wherein is means for positioning the templet and defining member upon the blank; inthe same operation, whereas theme/ans for withdrawing the defining member is operable independently of the templet. i

7.;lnfolding machine I as in claim 5 and wherein the defining member is composed of resilient metal capable of yielding during the final intolder action.

8. Intolding machine as in claim 5 and wherein the defining member is pivotally mounted on the supporting parts of the templet, with means to swing the same for its withdrawal. i

9jlntolding machine as in claim 5 and wherein the defining member is a plate.

mounted on a swinging carrier, and automatic means to swing the carrier.

10. Infolding machine as in claim 5 and wherein the templet comprises movable plates, a frame supporting the plates a fulcrum about which the frame swings, and a cam rotating about the axis oftemplet swinging for effecting the withdrawal of the defining member prior to. the contraction of the templet plates.

11. Intolding machine as in claim 5 and wherein one of the infolders comprises a re entrant obtuse angle operating both at one templet edge and the edge of the defining edge (89) adapted to define the final fold, adapted to form the final fold. i v j 1 13. Infolding machine as in claim 5 'and wherein one of the infolders comprises a reentrant obtuse, angleoperating both at one templet edge and the edge of the defining member, with a notch at the apex assisting forming the material into a loop or flap.

14:. Infolding machine as in claim 5 and wherein the infolders comprise an infolder operating at both sides of the obtuse angle and moved inwardly to'fold both margins and lay the'interm'ediate loop down within the sharpangle subtended by the templet,

and a second infolder operating after the defining member is withdrawn and moved inward in cooperation with the first infolder to lay the final 'i old smoothly in place.

15. In a machine for infolding' collar blanks or the like, a support for a blank to be folded, a templet fitted to be positioned upon the blank and adapted to define the two edges meeting at a sharp corner, a defining plate adapted to be removably positioned upon the blank margin adjacent 'to such sharp corner for enlarglng the subtended angle to an obtuseangle, infolders, means for 'member, said infolder having an external epereting the infolders first t0 infold the lnatel'ia'l vace-ted by salid plate, and means blank margins over the tel nplet and plate at for withdrewingthe defining plate from the both sides of the obtuse angle and form the infoldedmaterial after the first and before 10 excess material into at 100p and lay the same the last infolding Operation.

'5 down Within' the angle subtended by the In testimony whereof, I have "efilxed my templet, and subsequently, after -the withsignature hereto.

,d wal of the defining plate, to Iinfold the WALTER L. DIXON. 

